Image reading apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image reading apparatus configured to reduce a force required for moving a document cover to an open position is provided. The image reading apparatus includes a document table having a top surface and a reading area and a document cover that is configured to pivot, around an axis extending in a first direction, between a closed position and an open position. The document cover includes a sheet. The top surface has a marginal area which is located outside of a reading area on a side opposite to the axis. The marginal area includes a contact area and a non-contact area which are arranged in the first direction. When the document cover is in the closed position, the top surface in the contact area contacts the sheet, and the top surface in the non-contact area does not contact the sheet.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of prior U.S. application Ser. No.12/889,906, filed Sep. 24, 2010, which claims priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2009-294366, filed on Dec. 25, 2009, which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an image reading apparatus includinga document table on which a document is placed to be read, and adocument cover including a sheet to contact the document table.

BACKGROUND

Multifunction apparatuses, copiers, scanners, and other image formingapparatuses include an image reading apparatus that is configured toread an image of a document. As such an image reading apparatus, aflatbed scanner is known. The image reading apparatus includes adocument table, an image reader, and a document cover. A document isplaced on the document table, and the document cover is closed over thedocument, and the image reader reads an image of the document.

The document cover is configured to block extraneous light such that theeffect of light on image reading is eliminated and to press the documentagainst the document table, whereby the precision with which to read animage is improved.

SUMMARY

In a known image reading apparatus, the image reader is disposed underthe document table and configured to read an image of a document, andthe document cover is pivotally supported at one side of the documenttable and configured to press and fix the document against the documenttable when the document cover is closed.

The document cover includes a sheet, which is disposed on a surface ofthe document cover facing the document table when the document cover isclosed. The sheet has a flat surface which contacts the document and asurface of the document table when the document cover is closed.

When the image reading apparatus is not used, the document cover isclosed in most cases. While the sheet contacts the surface of thedocument table, an adhesion force of the sheet acts on the surface ofthe document table. In a case where the sheet is kept in contact withthe surface of the document table for a long time, the adhesion forceincreases and the sheet clings to the surface of the document table likea suction cup. Thus, when the user raises the document cover, a forceequivalent to the increased adhesion force is required.

Aspects of the disclosure provide an image reading apparatus includingan image reader, which is configured to read an image of a documentplaced on a document table, and a document cover including a sheet,which is configured to contact the document table, wherein the imagereading apparatus is configured to reduce a force required for movingthe document cover to an open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative aspects will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing figures in which like elements are labeled with like numbersand in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multifunction apparatus according toillustrative aspects of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the multifunction apparatus in which adocument cover is open;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a document table illustrating positionalrelationship among a reading area, a sheet equivalent area, and a fingerrecess portion equivalent area;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view illustrating parts in proximity to apressure reducing portion according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates force to be applied to the pressure reducing portionwhen the document cover is opened;

FIG. 6 illustrates positions where the pressure reducing portions areformed;

FIG. 7 illustrates a pressure reducing portion according to a secondembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view illustrating parts in proximity to thepressure reducing portion according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates a pressure reducing portion according to a thirdembodiment;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view illustrating parts in proximity to thepressure reducing portion according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 11 illustrates a pressure reducing portion according to a fourthembodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view illustrating parts in proximity to thepressure reducing portion according to the fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The general structure of an illustrative multifunction apparatus 1 as anexample of an image reading apparatus according to illustrative aspectsof the disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

For ease of discussion, in the following description, the top or upperside, the bottom or lower side, the left or left side, the right orright side, the front or front side, and the rear or rear side are usedto define the various parts when the multifunction apparatus 1 isdisposed in an orientation in which it is intended to be used.

A first embodiment will be described.

The multifunction apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment isprovided with printing function, copying function, and facsimilefunction as well as a function as an image reading apparatus or scanningfunction. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the multifunction apparatus 1includes a main body casing 5. The main body casing 5 accommodates aprinter unit (not shown) performing a printing function and copyingfunction, and a facsimile unit (not shown) performing a facsimilefunction. The multifunction apparatus 1 includes a scanner unit 30functioning as an image reading apparatus in an upper portion of themain body casing 5.

The multifunction apparatus 1 includes a sheet supply cassette 10 in alower portion of the main body casing 5. The sheet supply cassette 10 isconfigured to store recording sheets in a stack, which are to be printedin the printing and copying functions by the printer unit. The sheetsupply cassette 10 is configured to be attached to and removed from themain body casing 5 by sliding in the front-rear direction of themultifunction apparatus 1. The multifunction apparatus 1 includes asheet ejection portion 15 above the sheet cassette 10. The sheetejection portion 15 is configured to accumulate recording sheets printedin printing or copying function.

The multifunction apparatus 1 includes an operation panel 20 on a fronttop side of the main body casing 5. The operation panel 20 has a display25 and operation buttons. The display 25 is a liquid crystal displaywhich displays various messages related to the functions of themultifunction apparatus 1. The operation buttons are used when a userprovides instructions to the multifunction apparatus 1.

The structure of the scanner unit 30 according to the embodiment will bedescribed with reference to the drawings. As described above, themultifunction apparatus 1 includes the scanner unit 30 in the upperportion of the main body casing 5. The scanner unit 30 is a flatbedimage scanner, and includes a document cover 40 and a document table 50.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the document cover 40 is supported to pivotaround an axis on a rear end of a top surface of the main body casing 5.In this embodiment, the document cover 40 is configured to move, e.g.pivot at the rear side in this embodiment, between a closed position(FIG. 1) in which the document cover 40 covers a top surface of thedocument table 50 and an open position (FIG. 2) in which the front sideof the document cover 40 is placed upward and the top surface of thedocument base 50 is exposed.

The document cover 40 has an automatic document feeder 41, a fingerrecess portion 42, a cushion 43, and a sheet 44. The automatic documentfeeder 41 is disposed on the left end of the top of the document cover40, and is configured to feed a document to be read along apredetermined path. As the structure of the automatic document feeder 41is already known, the detailed description thereof is omitted.

The finger recess portion 42 is a handle portion, which is designed tobe held by the user when the document cover 40 is moved from the closedposition to the open position. Thus, when the document cover 40 is movedto the open position, a force applied by the user acts in proximity tothe finger recess portion 42. The finger recess portion 42 is formed ina central portion of the front end of the document cover 40, and extendswith a constant width in the left-right direction. An area where theforce applied to the finger recess portion 42 by the user operation actseffectively is referred to as a finger recess portion equivalent area G(FIG. 3). The finger recess portion equivalent area G corresponds to thelength of the finger recess portion 42 in the left-right direction.

The cushion 43 is a flat sponge made of a synthetic resin, and isdisposed on the lower surface of the document cover 40 when the documentcover 40 is placed in the closed position. Thus, the cushion 43 facestoward the top surface of the document table 50 when the document cover40 is placed in the closed position. The cushion 43 is formed in arectangle slightly greater than an area in which the scanner unit 30 iscapable of reading an image (hereinafter this area is referred to as areading area R shown in FIG. 3).

The sheet 44 is a film made of polypropylene or polyester, and isdisposed on the lower surface of the cushion 43 when the document cover40 is placed in the closed position. Thus, when the document cover 40 isplaced in the closed position, the sheet 44 contacts the top surface ofthe document table 50 at least in the reading area R. Similarly to thecushion 43, the sheet 44 is formed in a rectangle slightly greater thanthe reading area R. When the document cover 40 is in the closedposition, an area of the top surface of the document table 50 in whichthe sheet 44 occupies is referred to as a sheet equivalent area S.

The cushion 43 and the sheet 44 are formed with pressure reducingportions 45. The pressure reducing portions 45 are formed bymanufacturing, for example, cutting out predetermined portions of thecushion 43 and the sheet 44. The pressure reducing portions 45 areconfigured to reduce burden on the user when moving or raising thedocument cover 40 to the open position.

The document table 50 is disposed at the top of the main body casing 5,is a place on which a document to be read by the scanner unit 30 isplaced, and constitutes the principal part of the scanning function. Thedocument table 50 includes a frame 51, a flatbed glass 52, and a scannerunit 55.

The flatbed glass 52 is a sheet of transparent material, such as a glassor plastic, and constitutes the top surface of the document table 50. Adocument to be read by the scanner unit 30 is placed on the flatbedglass 52. The frame 51 is disposed along the edges of the flatbed glass52 to hold the flatbed glass 52 therein. The frame 51 also contains thetop surface of the document table 50, as well as the flatbed glass 52.

The scanner unit 55 has an image sensor, e.g., a contact image sensor(CIS), and constitutes the principal part of the scanner unit 30. Thescanner unit 55 is disposed under the flatbed glass 52 as shown in FIGS.2 and 4, and is configured to move in the left-right direction (in a subscanning direction) in an area corresponding to the reading area R.Thus, the scanner unit 55 is configured to read an image of a documentplaced in the reading area R on the flatbed glass 52.

To read an image of a document placed on the document table 50 in themultifunction apparatus 1, the user places the document on the flatbedglass 52 for image reading, and moves or lowers the document cover 40 tothe closed position. As the document cover 40 is closed, the document onthe flatbed glass 52 is pressed against the flatbed glass 52 by thecushion 43 and the sheet 44 of the document cover 40, and fixed inplace. In this situation, the multifunction apparatus 1 controls thescanner unit 55 to obtain a good reading result.

When the scanning function is not used in the multifunction apparatus 1,it is necessary to place the document cover 40 in the closed position.When the document cover 40 is closed, the sheet 44 comes proximate tothe flatbed glass 52 with a slight distance away from the flatbed glass52. At this time, the slight distance forms a space, which is almosthermetically sealed, between the sheet 44 and the flatbed glass 52. Airin the space between the sheet 44 and the flatbed glass 52 is likely toleak outside the space due to the weight of the document cover 40 andthe atmospheric pressure applied to the document cover 40. As a result,as the pressure in the space gets lower than the atmospheric pressure,the document cover 40 may cling to the flatbed glass 52 of the documenttable 50 via the sheet 44 like a suction cup as shown in FIG. 4.

A structure of the pressure reducing portions 45 according to the firstembodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3-6. As describedabove, the pressure reducing portions 45 are formed by cutting outpredetermined portions of the cushion 43 and the sheet 44.

As shown in FIG. 3, the top surface of the document table 50 includes amarginal area E, which is outside of the reading area R on a side wherethe finger recess portion 42 is formed, e.g. on the front side in thisembodiment. The marginal area E extends in the left-right direction. Inthe marginal area E, the scanner unit 30 does not read an image. Themarginal area E includes a formation area F, which is an overlappingarea where the sheet equivalent area S overlaps the finger recessportion equivalent area G. The pressure reducing portions 45 are formedat ends of the cushion 43 and the sheet 44 to be located within theformation area F. As the pressure reducing portions 45 are formed at theends of the cushion 43 and the sheet 44 to be located within theformation area F, they are located outside of the reading area R. Thus,the pressure reducing portions 45 are not contained in the result of animage to be read by the scanner unit 30. In other words, themultifunction apparatus 1 can read an image of a document withoutinfluence from the pressure reducing portions 45. In addition, as thepressure reducing portions 45 are located within the finger recessportion equivalent area G, the force applied to the finger recessportion 42 by the user effectively acts on the pressure reducingportions 45.

The pressure reducing portions 45 are formed by cutting out the ends ofthe cushion 43 and the sheet 44, which are to be located within theformation area F, to a predetermined dimension. Thus, as shown in FIGS.2 and 5, the pressure reducing portions 45 are cutouts which arerecessed inward from the ends of the cushion 43 and the sheet 44. Thesheet 44 at the pressure reducing portion 45 does not contact theflatbed glass 52.

As shown in FIG. 5, as the pressure reducing portions 45 are recessedinward from the ends of the cushion 43 and the sheet 44, the forceapplied to the finger recess portion 42 by the user can be exerted inproximity to the pressure reducing portions 45 intensively. Thus, whenthe document cover 40 clings to the flatbed glass 52 like a suction cup,the user can easily separate the sheet 44 from the flatbed glass 52 inproximity to the pressure reducing portions 45. Once a part of the sheet44 is separated from the flatbed glass 52, air enters between the sheet44 and the flatbed glass 52, so that the sheet 44 can be easilyseparated from the flatbed glass 52. In this manner, the multifunctionapparatus 1 can reduce the burden on the user when moving the documentcover 40 to the open position.

As shown in FIG. 6, the pressure reducing portions 45 are formed in twopositions P which are located at the front and rear ends of each of thecushion 43 and the sheet 44. In the following description, the cushion43 and the sheet 44 are collectively referred to as the sheet 44 becausethey have the same size. One position P located at the front end of thesheet 44 is eccentric a distance D from a center C of the sheet 44 in apredetermined direction, e.g. rightward in FIG. 6. The other position Plocated at the rear end of the sheet 44 is eccentric the distance D fromthe center C of the sheet 44 in a predetermined direction, e.g. leftwardin FIG. 6. That is, the position P at the rear end of the sheet 44 andthe position P at the front end of the sheet 44 are symmetrical aboutthe center C of the sheet 44.

Thus, the cushion 43 and the sheet 44 have the pressure reducingportions 45 in two positions P which are symmetrical about the center C.Thus, if the cushion 43 and the sheet 44 are rotated 180 degrees aboutthe center C, the positional relationship between the pressure reducingportions 45 are unchanged. In other words, when the multifunctionapparatus 1 is manufactured, a worker can attach the cushion 43 and thesheet 44 to the document cover 40 without consideration of theorientation of the cushion 43 and the sheet 44. As a result, the burdenon the worker for attaching the cushion 43 and the sheet 44 to thedocument cover 40 can be reduced.

Each position P is determined to be located within the formation area F.Thus, when the document cover 40 is placed in the closed position, thesheet 44 contacts the flatbed 52 except for the pressure reducingportion 45 in the formation area F. In other words, the formation area Fincludes a contact area where the flatbed glass 52 contacts the sheet 44and a non-contact area where the flatbed glass 52 doe not contact thesheet 44. In the marginal area E, the left and right areas of theformation area F are the contact areas.

As described above, the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the firstembodiment includes the scanner unit 30, and the scanner unit 30includes the document table 50, the scanner unit 55, and the documentcover 40. The scanner unit 30 is used when the document cover 40 is inthe closed position such that the scanner unit 55 reads an image of adocument placed on the document table 50. The document cover 40 includesthe finger recess portion 42, the cushion 43, and the sheet 44. When thedocument cover 40 is in the closed position, the sheet 44 faces theflatbed glass 52 which is the top surface of the document table 50. Thecushion 43 and the sheet 44 include the pressure reducing portions 45 inthe position P located within the formation area F, which facilitatereleasing the sheet 44 from dinginess between the sheet 44 and theflatbed glass 52. Thus, in the multifunction apparatus 1, the documentcover 40 can be easily raised to the open position.

In the multifunction apparatus 1, the formation area F in which thepressure reducing portion 45 is formed falls within the finger recessportion equivalent area G, which is located in proximity to the fingerrecess portion 42. When the finger recess portion 42 is used to move thedocument cover 40 to the open position, the force applied by the userappropriately acts on the pressure reducing portion 45. As a result, themultifunction apparatus 1 can make efficient use of the force applied bythe user when the document cover 40 is moved to the open position,facilitating the operation for moving the document cover 40 to the openposition. The formation area F is located outside of the reading area Rwhen the document cover 40 is in the closed position. Thus, the pressurereducing portion 45 does not exert an influence upon an image to be readby the scanner unit 55.

The pressure reducing portions 45 are formed with a simple workingoperation, e.g., by cutting out the ends of the cushion 43 and the sheet44 so as to be located in the position P within the formation area F.Thus, the pressure reducing portions 45 allow a force, which is appliedby the user in the operation for moving the document cover 40 to theopen position, to be exerted intensively on the pressure reducingportions 45 (FIG. 5). Even when the document cover 40 clings to the topsurface of the document table 50, the multifunction apparatus 1 can takein air between the sheet 44 and the flatbed glass 52 through thepressure reducing portion 45 such that the pressure between the sheet 44and the flatbed glass 52 becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure.Thus, even when the document cover 40 clings to the document table 50like a suction cup, the multifunction apparatus 1 can facilitate theoperation for moving the document cover 40 to the open position.

The pressure reducing portions 45 are formed in two positions P, whichare symmetrical with respect to the center C of the sheet 44. Once thecenter C is set in place, the worker can attach the sheet 44 to thedocument cover 40 without consideration of the orientation of the sheet44. As a result, the multifunction apparatus 1 can reduce the burden onthe worker for attaching the cushion 43 and the sheet 44 to the documentcover 40.

A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

It is noted that the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the secondembodiment is identical in basic structure to that of the firstembodiment, except for the structure of the pressure reducing portions45. In FIGS. 7 and 8, a pressure reducing portion 45A is a variant ofthe pressure reducing portion 45 of the first embodiment, where partssubstantially equivalent to those described above are denoted by thesame reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the pressure reducing portion 45A is formed suchthat it protrudes downward by a predetermined dimension at the positionP. That is, the pressure reducing portion 45A is a downward protrusionin which the sheet 44 protrudes toward the document cover 40 to belocated in the position P. Thus, in the multifunction apparatus 1according to the second embodiment, when the document cover 40 is in theclosed position, only a part of the sheet 44 corresponding to thepressure reducing portion 45A contacts the flatbed glass 52. In otherwords, the most part of the sheet 44 is located above the flatbed glass52 via a space I, which is formed between the sheet 44 and the flatbedglass 52, as shown in FIG. 8. When the sheet 44 is viewed only in theformation area F of the document table 50, the sheet 44 at the pressurereducing portion 45A, which is a downward protrusion, corresponds to thecontact area, and the sheet 44 above the space I corresponds to thenon-contact area. In the marginal area E, the left and right areas ofthe formation area F may be the non-contact areas and also may be thecontact areas.

Even when the document cover 40 is in the closed position, the space Iis in fluid communication with outside air such as to take in outsideair. Thus, as the pressure in the space I becomes equal to theatmospheric pressure, the pressure reducing portion 45A can reduce achance of the sheet 44 clinging to the flatbed glass 52 like a suctioncup.

The pressure reducing portions 45A are formed in the positions P (FIG.6) located at the front and rear ends of the sheet 44 similarly to thefirst embodiment. In other words, the pressure reducing portions 45A areformed in the positions P which are symmetrical with respect to thecenter C of the sheet 44. Thus, the multifunction apparatus 1 accordingto the second embodiment can also reduce the burden on the worker forattaching the sheet 44 to the document cover 40.

The pressure reducing portion 45A formed at the front end of the sheet44 is located in the position P within the formation area F, similarlyto the first embodiment. In the second embodiment as well, when thedocument cover 40 is in the closed position, the pressure reducingportion 45A is located outside of the reading area R. Thus, the pressurereducing portion 45A does not exert an influence upon an image read bythe scanner unit 55. As the position P at the front end of the sheet 44falls within the finger recess portion equivalent area G, the forceapplied to the finger recess portion 42 by the user can be effectivelyexerted on the pressure reducing portion 45A at the front end of thesheet 44. As a result, the multifunction apparatus 1 according to thesecond embodiment can facilitate the operation for moving the documentcover 40 to the open position.

In the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, thesheet 44 has the pressure reducing portion 45A in the position P withinthe formation area F, which reduces the dinginess between the sheet 44and the flatbed glass 52, similarly to the first embodiment. Thus, themultifunction apparatus 1 can facilitate the operation for moving thedocument cover 40 to the open position. In addition, as the formationarea F falls within the finger recess portion equivalent area G, whenthe finger recess portion 42 is used to move the document cover 40 tothe open position, the force applied by the user appropriately acts onthe pressure reducing portion 45A. As a result, the multifunctionapparatus 1 of the second embodiment can make efficient use of the forceapplied by the user when the document cover 40 is moved to the openposition, thereby facilitating the operation for moving the documentcover 40 to the open position. The formation area F is located outsideof the reading area R when the document cover 40 is in the closedposition. Thus, the pressure reducing portion 45A does not exert aninfluence upon an image read by the scanner unit 55 in the secondembodiment as well.

The pressure reducing portions 45A are formed by simple working, e.g.,protruding the end of the sheet 44 downward in a state when the documentcover 40 is in the closed position. The pressure reducing portion 45Aforms the space I, which is in communication with outside air, betweenthe sheet 44 and the flatbed glass 52 when the document cover 40 is inthe closed position. Thus, the multifunction apparatus 1 according tothe second embodiment can facilitate the operation for moving thedocument cover 40 to the open position.

In the second embodiment as well, the pressure reducing portions 45A areformed in the two positions P, which are symmetrical with respect to thecenter C of the sheet 44. The multifunction apparatus 1 according to thesecond embodiment can reduce the burden on the worker for attaching thesheet 44 to the document cover 40.

A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

It is noted that the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the thirdembodiment is identical in basic structure to that of the firstembodiment, except for the structure of the pressure reducing portions45. In FIGS. 9 and 10, a pressure reducing portion 45B is a variant ofthe pressure reducing portion 45 of the first embodiment, where partssubstantially equivalent to those described above are denoted by thesame reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, the pressure reducing portion 45B is formed byrecessing the end of the sheet 44, which is located in the position Pwithin the formation area F, upward by a predetermined dimension. Thatis, the pressure reducing portion 45B is an upward recess in which thesheet 44 is recessed toward the document cover 40 to be located in theposition P. In the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the thirdembodiment, when the document cover 40 is in the closed position, thesheet 44 at the pressure reducing portion 45B is spaced a predetermineddistance above the flatbed glass 52. The sheet 44 at the pressurereducing portion 45B is located above the flatbed glass 52 via a spaceI, which is formed between the sheet 44 and the flatbed glass 52 at thepressure reducing portion 45B, as shown in FIG. 10. When the sheet 44 isviewed only in the formation area F of the document table 50, the sheet44 at the pressure reducing portion 45B, which is an upward recess,corresponds to the non-contact area, and the sheet 44 except for thepressure reducing portion 45B corresponds to the contact area. In themarginal area E, the left and right areas of the formation area F arethe contact areas.

Thus, the pressure reducing portion 45B allows air to pass, via thespace I, between the sheet 44 and the flatbed glass 52. In other words,even when the document cover 40 located in the closed position clings tothe flatbed glass 52 like a suction cap, the pressure reducing portion45B passes air between the sheet 44 and the flatbed glass 52 inaccordance with the operation for moving the document cover 40 to theopen position, such that the pressure between the sheet 44 and theflatbed glass 52 becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure. As a result,the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment canprovide the user with a situation in which the user can easily positionthe document cover 40 in the open position.

The pressure reducing portions 45B are formed in the positions P (FIG.6) located at the front and rear ends of the sheet 44 similarly to thefirst embodiment. In other words, the pressure reducing portions 45B areformed in the positions P which are symmetrical with respect to thecenter C of the sheet 44. Thus, the multifunction apparatus 1 accordingto the third embodiment can also reduce the burden on the worker forattaching the sheet 44 to the document cover 40.

The pressure reducing portion 45B formed at the front end of the sheet44 is located in the position P within the formation area F, similarlyto the first embodiment. In the third embodiment as well, when thedocument cover 40 is in the closed position, the pressure reducingportion 45B is located outside of the reading area R. Thus, the pressurereducing portion 45B does not exert an influence upon an image read bythe scanner unit 55. As the position P at the front end of the sheet 44falls within the finger recess portion equivalent area G, the forceapplied to the finger recess portion 42 by the user can be exerted onthe pressure reducing portion 45B at the front end of the sheet 44(refer to FIG. 5). As a result, the multifunction apparatus 1 accordingto the third embodiment can facilitate the operation for moving thedocument cover 40 to the open position.

As described above, in the multifunction apparatus 1 according to thethird embodiment, the sheet 44 has the pressure reducing portion 45B inthe position P within the formation area F, which reduces the dinginessbetween the sheet 44 and the flatbed glass 52, similarly to the firstembodiment. Thus, the multifunction apparatus 1 can facilitate theoperation for moving the document cover 40 to the open position. Inaddition, as the formation area F falls within the finger recess portionequivalent area G, when the finger recess portion 42 is used to move thedocument cover 40 to the open position, the force applied by the userappropriately acts on the pressure reducing portion 45B. As a result,the multifunction apparatus 1 of the third embodiment can make efficientuse of the force applied by the user when the document cover 40 is movedto the open position, thereby facilitating the operation for moving thedocument cover 40 to the open position. The formation area F is locatedoutside of the reading area R when the document cover 40 is in theclosed position. Thus, the pressure reducing portion 45B does not exertan influence upon an image read by the scanner unit 55 in the secondembodiment as well.

The pressure reducing portions 45B according to the third embodiment areformed by simple working, e.g., recessing the end of the sheet 44 upwardin a state when the document cover 40 is in the closed position. Evenwhen the document cover 40 located in the closed position clings to theflatbed glass 52 lick a suction cap, the pressure reducing portion 45Bpasses air between the sheet 44 and the flatbed glass 52 via the space Iin accordance with the operation for moving the document cover 40 to theopen position. Thus, the multifunction apparatus 1 according to thethird embodiment can facilitate the operation for moving the documentcover 40 to the open position.

In the third embodiment as well, the pressure reducing portions 45B areformed in the two positions P which are symmetrical with respect to thecenter C of the sheet 44. Thus, the multifunction apparatus 1 accordingto the third embodiment can also reduce the burden on the worker forattaching the sheet 44 to the document cover 40.

A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

It is noted that the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the fourthembodiment is identical in basic structure to that of the firstembodiment, except for the structure of the pressure reducing portions45. In FIGS. 11 and 12, a pressure reducing portion 45C is a variant ofthe pressure reducing portion 45 of the first embodiment, where partssubstantially equivalent to those described above are denoted by thesame reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 11, the pressure reducing portion 45C is formed byextending a part of the end of the sheet 44, which is located in theposition P within the formation area F, outward, e.g. frontward in thisembodiment, by a predetermined dimension. That is, the pressure reducingportion 45C is an extension where the sheet 44 partially sticks out tobe located in the position P. When the document cover 40 is in theclosed position, the sheet 44 contacts the frame 51 from above at thepressure reducing portion 45C. The frame 51 holds the flatbed glass 52in such a manner as to cover the ends of the flatbed glass 52 on the topsurface thereof. Thus, in the multifunction apparatus 1 according to thefourth embodiment, when the document cover 40 is in the closed position,a space I is formed in proximity to, e.g., below, the pressure reducingportion 45C. The space I is defined by the bottom surface of the sheet44 having the pressure reducing portion 45C, the top surface of the flatbed glass 52, and the top surface of the frame 51 and is incommunication with outside in the left and right direction (refer toFIGS. 11 and 12). When the sheet 44 is viewed only in the formation areaF of the document table 50, the sheet 44 at the pressure reducingportion 45C, which is an extension, corresponds to the contact area, andthe sheet 44 except for the pressure reducing portion 45C corresponds tothe non-contact area. In the marginal area E, the left and right areasof the formation area F are the non-contact areas.

The pressure reducing portion 45C allows air to pass between the sheet44 and the flatbed glass 52 via the space I in accordance with theoperation for moving the document cover 40 to the open position. Inother words, even when the document cover 40 located in the closedposition clings to the flatbed glass 52 like a suction cap, the pressurereducing portion 45C passes air between the sheet 44 and the flatbedglass 52 in accordance with the operation for moving the document cover40 to the open position, such that the pressure between the sheet 44 andthe flatbed glass 52 becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure. As aresult, the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodimentcan provide the user with a situation in which the user can easilyposition the document cover 40 in the open position.

The pressure reducing portion 45C is formed in the position P within theformation area F, similarly to the first embodiment. In other words, inthe fourth embodiment as well, when the document cover 40 is in theclosed position, the pressure reducing portion 45C is located outside ofthe reading area R. As a result, the pressure reducing portion 45C doesnot exert an influence upon an image read by the scanner unit 55. As theposition P of the pressure reducing portion 45C is located in the fingerrecess portion equivalent area G, the force applied to the finger recessportion 42 by the user the pressure reducing portion 45C can beeffectively exerted on the pressure reducing portion 45C. As a result,the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment canfacilitate the operation for moving the document cover 40 to the openposition.

As described above, in the multifunction apparatus 1 according to thefourth embodiment, the sheet 44 has the pressure reducing portion 45C inthe position P within the formation area F, which easily releases thedinginess between the sheet 44 and the flatbed glass 52, similarly tothe first embodiment. Thus, the multifunction apparatus 1 can facilitatethe operation for moving the document cover 40 to the open position. Inaddition, as the formation area F falls within the finger recess portionequivalent area G, when the finger recess portion 42 is used to move thedocument cover 40 to the open position, the force applied by the userappropriately acts on the pressure reducing portion 45C. As a result,the multifunction apparatus 1 of the fourth embodiment can makeefficient use of the force applied by the user when the document cover40 is moved to the open position, thereby facilitating the operation formoving the document cover 40 to the open position. The formation area Fis located outside of the reading area R when the document cover 40 isin the closed position. Thus, the pressure reducing portion 45C does notexert an influence upon an image read by the scanner unit 55 in thesecond embodiment as well.

The pressure reducing portions 45C are formed by simple working, e.g.,extending the end of the sheet 44 frontward in a state when the documentcover 40 is in the closed position. When the document cover 40 locatedin the closed position clings to the flatbed glass 52 like a suctioncap, the pressure reducing portion 45C passes air between the sheet 44and the flatbed glass 52 via the space I in accordance with theoperation for moving the document cover 40 to the open position. Thus,the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment canfacilitate the operation for moving the document cover 40 to the openposition.

The illustrative embodiments show, but the disclosure is not limited to,the multifunction apparatus 1. Instead, an image scanner may be used.

The illustrative embodiments show, but the disclosure is not limited to,the document cover 40 having the automatic document feeder 41.

The first embodiment shows, but the disclosure is not limited to, thepressure reducing portions 45 formed in the cushion 43 and the sheet 44in the positions P by cutting. The pressure reducing portions 45 may beformed in the sheet 44 only. The pressure reducing portions 45 in thecushion 43 may not be essential.

The second and third embodiments show, but the disclosure is not limitedto, the pressure reducing portions 45A, 45B formed by shaping downwardprotrusions or upward recesses at the ends of sheet 44 located in thepositions P. The pressure reducing portions 45A, 45B may be formed inany way. For example, the downward recesses may be formed in the sheet44 by increasing the depth in surface texturing. Alternatively, theupward recesses may be formed in the sheet 44 by affixing a film havinga predetermined thickness.

The illustrative embodiments show, but the disclosure is not limited to,that the pressure reducing portion 45, 45A, 45B or 45C is formed withinthe formation area F. The pressure reducing portion 45, 45A, 45B or 45Cmay be formed in any place except for the formation area F as long as itis located in the marginal area E, which is located outside of thereading area R on a side opposite to the axis of rotation of thedocument cover 40 when the document cover 40 is in the closed position.Alternatively, a plurality of pressure reducing portions 45, 45A, 45B or45C may be formed in the marginal area E. For example, the pressurereducing portions may be formed one on each side of the formation area Fin the marginal area E.

The illustrative embodiments show, but the disclosure is not limited to,the sheet 44. Instead of the sheet 44, an object thicker than the sheet,e.g., a plate, may be used.

While the features herein have been described in connection with variousexample structures and illustrative aspects, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that other variations and modifications of thestructures and aspects described above may be made without departingfrom the scope of the disclosure described herein. Other structures andaspects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from aconsideration of the specification or practice of the features disclosedherein. It is intended that the specification and the described examplesonly are illustrative with the scope of the inventions being defined bythe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image reading apparatus comprising: a documenttable having a reading area, the document table having a top surface onwhich a document is to be placed; an image reader disposed under thedocument table, the image reader being configured to read an image ofthe document placed in the reading area of the document table; and adocument cover configured to pivot around an axis extending in a firstdirection relative to the document table between a closed position wherethe top surface of the document table is covered and an open positionwhere the top surface of the document table is exposed, the documentcover including a document table contacting member, the document tablecontacting member being configured to have face-to-face contact with thetop surface of the document table at least in the reading area when thedocument cover is in the closed position, wherein the top surface of thedocument table has a marginal area which is located outside of thereading area on a side opposite to a side where the document coverpivots around the axis, wherein the marginal area of the top surface ofthe document table includes a first contact area, a second contact areaand a non-contact area, wherein, when the document cover is in theclosed position, the document table contacting member of the documentcover contacts the top surface of the document table in the firstcontact area and the second contact area and does not contact the topsurface of the document table in the non-contact area, wherein thenon-contact area is disposed between the first contact area and thesecond contact area such that the first contact area, the non-contactarea, and the second contact area are arranged in the first direction,wherein the document cover further includes a handle portion disposed onthe side opposite to the side where the document cover pivots around theaxis and the handle portion extends in the first direction, and wherein,when the document cover is in the closed position, the non-contact areadisposed between the first contact area and the second contact area islocated in an area corresponding to a length of the handle portion inthe first direction.
 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim1, wherein the document cover contacting member has a cutoutcorresponding to the non-contact area.
 3. The image reading apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the document cover contacting memberfurther includes a further cutout that is symmetrically opposite to thecutout corresponding to the non-contact area with respect to a center ofthe document cover contacting member.
 4. The image reading apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the document cover contacting member hasan upward recess corresponding to the non-contact area.
 5. The imagereading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document coverfurther includes a cushion disposed facing the document cover contactingmember on an opposite side of the top surface of the document table whenthe document cover is in the closed position.
 6. An image readingapparatus comprising: a document table having a reading area, thedocument table having a top surface on which a document is to be placed;an image reader disposed under the document table, the image readerbeing configured to read an image of the document placed in the readingarea of the document table; and a document cover configured to pivotaround an axis extending in a first direction relative to the documenttable between a closed position where the top surface of the documenttable is covered and an open position where the top surface of thedocument table is exposed, the document cover including a document tablecontacting member, the document table contacting member being configuredto have face-to-face contact with the top surface of the document tableat least in the reading area when the document cover is in the closedposition, wherein the top surface of the document table has a marginalarea which is located outside of the reading area on a side opposite toa side where the document cover pivots around the axis, wherein themarginal area of the top surface of the document table includes a firstcontact area, a second contact area and a non-contact area, wherein,when the document cover is in the closed position, the document tablecontacting member of the document cover contacts the top surface of thedocument table in the first contact area and the second contact area anddoes not contact the top surface of the document table in thenon-contact area, wherein the non-contact area is disposed between thefirst contact area and the second contact area such that the firstcontact area, the non-contact area, and the second contact area arearranged in the first direction, and wherein the non-contact areadisposed between the first contact area and the second contact area islocated in a central portion of the marginal area in the firstdirection.
 7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 6, whereinthe document cover further includes a handle portion disposed on theside opposite to the side where the document cover pivots around theaxis and the handle portion extends in the first direction, and wherein,when the document cover is in the closed position, the non-contact areadisposed between the first contact area and the second contact area islocated in the central portion of the marginal area corresponding to alength of the handle portion in the first direction.
 8. The imagereading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the document covercontacting member has a cutout corresponding to the non-contact area. 9.The image reading apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the documentcover contacting member further includes a further cutout that issymmetrically opposite to the cutout corresponding to the non-contactarea with respect to a center of the document cover contacting member.10. The image reading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein thedocument cover contacting member has an upward recess corresponding tothe non-contact area.
 11. The image reading apparatus according to claim6, wherein the document cover further includes a cushion disposed facingthe document cover contacting member on an opposite side of the topsurface of the document table when the document cover is in the closedposition.
 12. An image reading apparatus comprising: a document tablehaving a reading area, the document table having a top surface on whicha document is to be placed; an image reader disposed under the documenttable, the image reader being configured to read an image of thedocument placed in the reading area of the document table; and adocument cover configured to pivot around an axis extending in a firstdirection relative to the document table between a closed position wherethe top surface of the document table is covered and an open positionwhere the top surface of the document table is exposed, the documentcover including a document table contacting member, the document tablecontacting member being configured to have face-to-face contact with thetop surface of the document table at least in the reading area when thedocument cover is in the closed position, wherein the top surface of thedocument table has a marginal area which is located outside of thereading area on a side opposite to a side where the document coverpivots around the axis, wherein the marginal area of the top surface ofthe document table includes a first contact area, a second contact areaand a non-contact area, wherein, when the document cover is in theclosed position, the document table contacting member of the documentcover contacts the top surface of the document table in the firstcontact area and the second contact area and does not contact the topsurface of the document table in the non-contact area, wherein thenon-contact area is disposed between the first contact area and thesecond contact area such that the first contact area, the non-contactarea, and the second contact area are arranged in the first direction,wherein, when the document cover is in the closed position, the documenttable contacting member of the document cover has an edge extending inthe first direction and overlapping the marginal area and the edge ofthe document table contacting member of the document cover includesfirst and second edge portions and a recessed portion disposed betweenthe first and second edge portions in the first direction and beingrecessed relative to the first and second edge portions, wherein, whenthe document cover is in the closed position, the first contact area andthe second contact area are disposed along the edge of the documenttable contacting member of the document cover, and wherein, when thedocument cover is in the closed position, the non-contact area disposedbetween the first contact area and the second contact area is disposedin the recessed portion of the edge.
 13. The image reading apparatusaccording to claim 12, wherein, when the document cover is in the closedposition, the non-contact area disposed between the first contact areaand the second contact area is located in a central portion of the edgein the first direction.
 14. The image reading apparatus according toclaim 12, wherein the document cover further includes a handle portiondisposed on the side opposite to the side where the document coverpivots around the axis and the handle portion extends in the firstdirection, and wherein, when the document cover is in the closedposition, the non-contact area disposed between the first contact areaand the second contact area is located in a central portion of the edgeoverlapping a length of the handle portion in the first direction. 15.The image reading apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the documentcover contacting member has a cutout corresponding to the non-contactarea when the document cover is in the closed position.
 16. The imagereading apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the document covercontacting member further includes a further cutout that issymmetrically opposite to the cutout corresponding to the non-contactarea with respect to a center of the document cover contacting member.17. The image reading apparatus according to claim 12, wherein thedocument cover contacting member has an upward recess corresponding tothe non-contact area.
 18. The image reading apparatus according to claim12, wherein the document cover further includes a cushion disposedfacing the document cover contacting member on an opposite side of thetop surface of the document table when the document cover is in theclosed position.